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Reflection on the class - This class was a lot about being very focused when creating the user experience, making sure every small detail is best for them. A small word change can dramatically affect how the user manages the interface. I think it's really interesting that words have such an effect, and they always need to be considered.
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When looking at UX writing there is a job role in it, in this blog by Yuval Keshtcher he writes about how to become one. The specific UX writing role is the art of crafting the text that appears throughout the interface of digital products. They are in control of the language that is used, how it comes across, and the tone it sets. It requires someone who is really aware of the brand and the user base.
There are four main areas in this article to become a UX writer, have a designer mindset not just creating something nice but also functional. They need to have active listening skills as it is not about you it is about the user and interpersonal relationships you need to build relationships with your team to do your job well, and continuous learning you are always learning something new about your users to create the best experience possible.
https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/ux-design/ux-writing-what-does-a-ux-writer-actually-do/
When looking into UX writing I came across this article by Anna Kaley which is content strategy Vs UX writing. They hold similar missions but are different, ‘Content strategy is an intentional plan, practice, and process to reach specific goals with content over time’ and ‘UX writing involves creating clear, concise, and contextually appropriate copy that guides people through an experience’
Out of this article, I chose to focus on UX writing more than the content strategy. They are uniquely tailored to answer questions to create a more positive experience for the users by preventing frustrations, challenges, and pain points that users might face in messages, announcements, products, and services. They also have to really work well in a team as the other UX/UI team members will create the foundations for the writer to work within.
They are responsible for the writing and editing of copy and publishing content, which means they also need these skills proper grammar, attention to detail, user research, ideation, search engine optimisation, and knowledge of the content system.
They have lots of different messages to give the user all the time so they must be clear and concise, have consistency overall, work, and listen closely to others.
These are from a graph comparing UX writing and content strategy, I just thought it was interesting how they differ but are similar enough, that they always have the main aim of creating the best user experience for the user.
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/content-strategy-vs-ux-writing/
UX writing is something that we rarely actually pay attention to even as designers, we never notice it till it is bad. Branding is an area that we have been continuously taught about there are many different elements that make up a brand tone of voice tends to be a very large area but I often forget to consider it, it is incredibly important as it impacts how the user thinks and feels about the brand, can have you a dramatic impact.
A great example that uses the tone of voice and UX writing is Duolingo an app that is made to teach languages and improve skills, the way Duolingo uses language creates a really effective and easy experience for the user. They do this by creating really straightforward and efficient sentences breaking down learning languages with practical examples.
They have also added personality with the Duolingo bird that comes across as conversational instead of formal. When creating efficient sentences that are easy to learn and understand it can create a very disconnected brand from the user, but the mascot adds another layer keeping people engaged.